Authors :
Scholastica Mathew Malangalila; Alfred Mwakalebela Laison
Volume/Issue :
Volume 10 - 2025, Issue 1 - January
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/45bun4mt
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/3e4fzs7y
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14637091
Abstract :
Background:
Health care services utilization refers to the use of
health services by an individual who is ill or seeking
health care services, such as screening services, family
planning services, and/or looking for advice. The health
care services utilization can be affected by a number of
factors that comprise both social, such as traditional and
cultural practices; economic, such as having health
insurance and use of out-of-pocket; physical, such as
infrastructure and accessibility of health care services;
and biological factors, such as having disabled, under-
five children and older people with health status, such as
having chronic illness. All these factors can either
facilitate or hinder health care services; therefore, this
study aims to determine the level of the health care
services utilization and its determinants among the
households (HH) in Iringa.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study design was employed using
multistage sampling techniques, and self-administered
questionnaires were used to interview 443 heads of
households in Iringa, and the data analyzed were by
descriptive and logistic regression were wined and
presented using frequencies, tables, figures, chi-squares,
p-values, Odds Ratio, and Adjusted Odds Ratios,
respectively.
Results:
The study out of 443had respondent rate of 95.7%
(424) whereby 67% among them who had the history of
illness were utilizing the health care services in the
previous 6 months. The high-income households were
2.0605 (AOR); P < 0.01 at CI of 95% (1.407, 4.822) more
likely to utilize the health care services as compared to
the very poor household. Regarding the household with
the under-5 children, there were 3.294 (AOR); P < 0.01
at the CI of 95% (1.826, 5.943), more likely to utilize the
health care services as compared to the household
without under-5 children.
Conclusion:
Income level and the presence of the under 5 were
the determinant factors for the utilization of the health
care services. Consideration of the very poor household
in contribution through waivers and exemptions should
be offered in government health facilities to access the
health care services.
Implication for Policy Makers
The quality and accessibility of primary healthcare
facilities should be improved to attract the health service
users regardless of their socioeconomic status
Implication for Public
The study found the income level and presence of
the under 5 to be the driving factors for utilizing the
healthcare services; this might affect equality in
healthcare services due to the inability to pay for the
services, as the fact that the low-income household as
well as the under 5 are prone to disease will, in turn, lead
to a shortage of medicines in most of the primary
healthcare facilities.
Keywords :
Health care Services Utilization.
References :
- Bazie GW, Adimassie MT. Modern health services utilization and associated factors in North East Ethiopia. 2017;1–10. .
- Musange IRKSF. The Development of Community Based Health Insurance in Rwanda; Experiences and Lessons March 2016. 2016;(March):15.
- Kim C, Mir K, Saeed A, Salehi AS, Zeng W. An equity analysis of utilization of health services in Afghanistan using a national household survey. BMC Public Health. 2016;1–11.
- E.Chomi, P.Mujinja, U.Enemark, K.Hansen, A.Kiwara. Health care seeking behaviour and utilisation in a multiple health insurance system; Does insurance affiliation matter? Int J Equity Health. 2014;13(1):1–11.
- Perkowski P, Rodberg L. Cost Sharing , Health Care Expenditures , and Utilization : An International Comparison. 2015;
- Mpambije CJ. Decentralisation of Health Systems and the Fate of Community Health Fund in Tanzania : Critical Review of High and Low Performing Districts. 2017;5(2):136–44.
- Atnafu DD, Tilahun H, Alemu YM. Community Based Health Insurance and Healthcare Service Utilisation, North-West Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2018;8(8):1–6.
- Ministry of Finance and Planning NB of ST. Age and Sex Distribution Report. 2022;1–23.
- Polonia G. Analysis of sample size in consumer surveys. 2013;
- Israel Glenn.D. Determining sample size degree of variability strategies for determining sample size. 1IFAS, Univ Florida. 1992;
- Karim RM, Abdullah MS, Rahman AM, Alam AM. Identifying role of perceived quality and satisfaction on the utilization status of the community clinic services ; Bangladesh context. BMC Health Serv Res. 2016;
- Modest AR, Ngowi AF, Katalambula L. Enrollment Status and Determinants of Improved Community Health Fund Among Households in Dodoma Tanzania. Int J Innov Sci Res Technol [Internet]. 2021;6(2). Available from: www.ijisrt.com807
Background:
Health care services utilization refers to the use of
health services by an individual who is ill or seeking
health care services, such as screening services, family
planning services, and/or looking for advice. The health
care services utilization can be affected by a number of
factors that comprise both social, such as traditional and
cultural practices; economic, such as having health
insurance and use of out-of-pocket; physical, such as
infrastructure and accessibility of health care services;
and biological factors, such as having disabled, under-
five children and older people with health status, such as
having chronic illness. All these factors can either
facilitate or hinder health care services; therefore, this
study aims to determine the level of the health care
services utilization and its determinants among the
households (HH) in Iringa.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study design was employed using
multistage sampling techniques, and self-administered
questionnaires were used to interview 443 heads of
households in Iringa, and the data analyzed were by
descriptive and logistic regression were wined and
presented using frequencies, tables, figures, chi-squares,
p-values, Odds Ratio, and Adjusted Odds Ratios,
respectively.
Results:
The study out of 443had respondent rate of 95.7%
(424) whereby 67% among them who had the history of
illness were utilizing the health care services in the
previous 6 months. The high-income households were
2.0605 (AOR); P < 0.01 at CI of 95% (1.407, 4.822) more
likely to utilize the health care services as compared to
the very poor household. Regarding the household with
the under-5 children, there were 3.294 (AOR); P < 0.01
at the CI of 95% (1.826, 5.943), more likely to utilize the
health care services as compared to the household
without under-5 children.
Conclusion:
Income level and the presence of the under 5 were
the determinant factors for the utilization of the health
care services. Consideration of the very poor household
in contribution through waivers and exemptions should
be offered in government health facilities to access the
health care services.
Implication for Policy Makers
The quality and accessibility of primary healthcare
facilities should be improved to attract the health service
users regardless of their socioeconomic status
Implication for Public
The study found the income level and presence of
the under 5 to be the driving factors for utilizing the
healthcare services; this might affect equality in
healthcare services due to the inability to pay for the
services, as the fact that the low-income household as
well as the under 5 are prone to disease will, in turn, lead
to a shortage of medicines in most of the primary
healthcare facilities.
Keywords :
Health care Services Utilization.
